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Fresh sparks spawning blues
  |  First Published: September 2014



While we experienced some good rains to freshen the lakes and streams up this month, the fish have been patchy; jumping all over offerings one day, turning their nose up at them the next. Frustrating but not unusual for this time of year with fish in spawning mode and some already completed the chore!

With consistent rains and water starting to run in feeder creeks from the ranges we can only hope the El Niño weather event predicted earlier in the year has disappeared.

Toolondo is pretty much dependant on Rocklands Reservoir reaching the trigger point and local water authority GWM allowing a much needed inflow that could save the lake’s future. I fear another long, hot summer will destroy this icon of the Wimmera. Already we have had the stocking halved to 15,000 due to risky water levels.

LAKE TOOLONDO

With spawning in full swing the trout have been spasmodic in their feeding patterns and switched right on one day but off the next. With trolling now a very viable option when floating weed blows to one side, Tassie Devils have accounted for many captures lately; #4 white clown being the pick of them.

We have also taken some bigger browns on the Fishooka Hoodlum in yellow, red and purple trolling them on the surface. Bait fishing has been hard work for most but we managed a few on minnow and gudgeon, as well as the ever-reliable mudeye. Fish Arrow J Huddles in natural colours are the best plastics rigged on very light jigheads. Flicked to weed and structure should tempt a feisty fish.

Some redfin have taken offerings intended for trout and make a great by-catch, with 1.6kg being a cracker we landed recently.

LAKE FYANS

Fyans has once again tapered off as it usually does this time of year but will switch on with the days becoming longer and the water level still rising, so expect some spring action to fire up soon.

Reports of some bigger browns are being taken as well as some great redfin in the shallow water just left of the boat ramp. Being 85% full, this fishery is in great shape and a full recovery from the past setbacks of fire and drought will see more stable results before too long. StumpJumpers, Diawa Double Clutches, Norries Laydown minnows, as well as Shimano Waxwings are favourites here and well worth having in the tackle box. Minnows, mudeyes or gudgeon fished under a bubble float have taken a few fish too up at the inlet and wall area.

LAKE BELLFIELD

Chinook salmon have been growing well and providing anglers targeting them with some great sport on light gear. As these fish are not up to the taking size as yet my recommendation is to a avoid bait fishing for them so as a quick, clean release is effected by lures.

Redfin have also been active in the shallow water early and late in the day.

I recently sighted a large brown trout lurking at the wall area late afternoon, but I was only on a passing visit with no gear! Trout have also been smelting after herding these tasty morsels into a ball then ambushing them on top.

WARTOOK RESERVOIR

Reports have been a bit scarce from here by boaters but bank anglers have taken some good fish on Tassie Devils off the wall casting and retrieving. When conditions favour it, a mudeye or minnow under a float off the wall is a proven method.

Powerbait in orange is a certainty this time of year here replicating a freshly laid egg at spawn time. Running sinker rig on the bottom is my preferred rig.

Trolling shallow running lures early and late should produce fish.

WIMMERA RIVER

The river continues to produce a few yellowbelly to 1kg for bait fishos willing to sacrifice baits but the carp are very pesky and beat the natives to most offerings. Persist and some good fish will be the reward.

Yabbies and scrub worms work well. Vibes and spinnerbaits around the snags and logs will get you away from the carp but be prepared to lose some tackle.

Redfin are also being taken on the same baits but are very few and far between.

Get out of Horsham a bit and explore the tracks and legal access points to the river for best results.

TAYLORS and GREEN LAKES

With very few people venturing out to these lakes I don't have a lot to report. However, I do know of one local angler bank fishing Green Lake taking a couple of nice redfin to 1.2kg on scrub worms fished on the bottom on a running sinker rig.

Another angler I know spent a day on Taylors for no result but sounded up many good marks for the day with the fish refusing to take baits or lures.

ROCKLANDS RESERVOIR

Rocklands has also been very quiet, which is normal for this time of year. I have spoken to a few locals from Balmoral of late and they are very disappointed at the lack of edible species in the reservoir.

There has always been abundant numbers of redfin there for the taking but the usual haunts just haven't produced this year. Most say the contributing factor is the masses of carp that infest this waterway.

With the water levels rising slightly we may be lucky enough to get a flow into Lake Toolondo via the channel. I'm sure those that spend enough time here trolling hardbody lures will eventually strike some trout or redfin but of late it just hasn't produced.

LAKE BOLAC

I'm sorry to say that there are very lean pickings with the lake becoming very low and dirty over the last few months. So far there is an inflow from the creek in the south west corner so maybe with continued rain, the levels will rise and hopefully see a resurgence.

Bolac holds some fantastic rainbow trout. Fishing glassies or locally caught minnows or Powerbait is the preferred method for bank anglers.

The lake also holds a thriving population of estuary perch that are growing well but still up to 2 years away from reaching the size limit of 27cm.

BOATING SAFETY

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of boat anglers who roll the dice with their own safety and wear waders while boating. Sure they are a great windbreaker in winter but are a death trap should the angler fall overboard. Water rushes into the waders creating air pockets in the boot/toes and the angler is upside down before they know it either drowning or succumbing to hypothermia.

Many anglers in more remote lakes also take their safety into their own hands and fail to wear a life jacket or inflatable vest while fishing. This could be the difference between life and death so please don't become a statistic!

• Victorian Inland Charters are proud to announce we have just purchased 3 Polycraft 4.1m hire/drive boats that are now available at Fyans, Bellfield, Wartook, Toolondo and Rocklands. We also have a 4.5m Polycraft in survey for hire drive or charter work based at Halls Gap.

These vessels being powered by 8hp Tohatsu motors require no boat licence to operate and are available in daylight hours only. Full equipped with safety gear they are ready for you to enjoy a day or weekend, be it fishing or sightseeing on these magnificent lakes. Enquiries to Trevor on 0438 132 130 or 03 5388 1338. Catch us on Facebook: Victorian Inland Charters or check our web site: www.victorianinlaandcharters.com.au

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